Stem cell research is medicine's best hope to attempt to find a cure for spinal cord injury, says Dr. Dalton Dietrich, scientific director at the Miami Project to Cure Paralysis, the world's largest, most comprehensive spinal cord injury research facility. "At the Miami Project, we are currently transplanting embryonic stem cells to attempt to find a cure for spinal cord injury -- one of today's most complex medical problems which affects over a million people worldwide," Dietrich says. Ongoing studies demonstrate that stem cell division gives rise to specialized cells that potentially can replace damaged cells of the spinal cord.

Comment from USATODAY.com Host:
Dr. Dietrich should be with us shortly.East Hartord, CT :
What exactly is a stem cell? How is it produced?

Dr. Dalton Dietrich:
A stem cell is a primitive cell that's produced during the early stages of development. The excitement in stem cell research is that these cells can turn into any cell of the body, so theoretically if one had a source of embryonic stem cells they could be transcplanted into someone who has brain or spinal chord injury, and those cells could turn into the cell that's needed to have the organ function properly. For example: In spinal cord injury, stem cells could be used to replace the neuronal population that's damaged after injury, and scientists feel that if we can replace neurons that are damaged after trauma, these cells could grow across the gap in the spinal cord and lead to recovery of function. These cells could also be used in diabetes research to replace eyelit cells.Newtown, PA :
Pleae explain what the difference is statistically between using stem cells obtained from placenta (which are discarded by thousands daily) and those from embryos. I have not heard one scientist address this issue with hard facts. It is my opinion that research with placenta stem cells can be just as effective.

Dr. Dalton Dietrich:
We do not know what population of stem cells are going to provide the best results. There may be differences in stem cell functions depending on where they are isolated. An important distinction in stem cell research is the discussion concerning embryonic versus adult stem cells. Embryonic stem cells have the capacity to differentiate into all cells of the body, whereas adult stem cells are more limited. The best source of stem cells, be it embryonic tissue or placenta, is still a matter of debate. To answer this important questions, basic research needs to be continued. :
Can we use stem cells to grow organs for transplant?

Dr. Dalton Dietrich:
Most scientists are interested in using stem cells as a therapeutic strategy to replace damaged cells, so research is directed toward cellular replacement strategies in contrast to whole organ replacement. Currently, scientific knowledge is lacking concerning how to grow whole organs. Indeed, most research is not directed toward stem cells to grow whole organs, but to provide a reliable sourse of cellular replacement therapy.DC :
How do you address your critics who say that life begins at conception, and that embryos are life?

Dr. Dalton Dietrich:
This is an extremely important question which merits a lot of discussion between individuals who have important concerns. Most scientists would say that a few cells dividing in the early stages do not represent an organ, do not represent a person, and therefor may make the distinction that this is not the beginning of life. However, this is a major concern to researchers in the field, and with continued education to the public we feel that most individuals will support controlled medical research assessing the potential use of these cells in human disease.DC :
What do you think of the political response to stem cell research so far?

Dr. Dalton Dietrich:
I think scientists want guidance from the policy makers as to what restrictions and guidelines are available for stem cell research. Also, I think that scientists need to continue to educate the general public as well as politicians and policy makers regarding what we are trying to accomplish. Only with continued discussion will everyone feel more comfortable about what the scientific community is trying to achieve in this field. This is extremely important, because the future is extremely exciting in regards to utilizing stem cells and other adult cell therapies to target neurological disorders and disease as well as other problems.Helvoirt, The Netherlands :
Dr. Dietrich, is there any research being done using stem cells to repair bulging or damaged discs? There are millions of us who suffer from chronic lower back pain. I hope to hear back from you.
Thanks!

Dr. Dalton Dietrich:
In terms of decreasing pain as a result of bulging discs, many new surgical procedures are being developed that can decrease compression on nerves. Stem cell therapy may also one day be used to rebuild spinal columns, and certainly research is underway to target this problem.DC :
How far away are we scientifically from being able to cure paralysis with stem cell research?

Dr. Dalton Dietrich:
There has never been more enthusiasm and excitement in the field that one day therapies will be developed to promote functional recovery following spinal cord injury. We know things today that were not known last year concerning how to promote regeneration and provide recovery function after spinal cord injury. Stem cell transplantation as well as the use of adult cell transplantation strategies certainly may one day be utilized in people to cure paralysis. However, much more work is required before these strategies should be introduced into tbe clinic.Cordoba-Argentina :
Do you think it`s easy to draw the line between cloning an embryo and a fully developed person? Can the latter be avoided?

Dr. Dalton Dietrich:
Cloning technology is being used in many laboratories. That does NOT pertain to cloning an individual. Cloning technology can be used to find a source of embryonic cells to be used in cell replacement therapies. No one to my knowledge in the United States is using this technology to clone organs or people. So yes, these types of techniques do offer exciting possibilities for therapeutic replacement strategies.Comment from USATODAY.com Host:
Thanks very much to Dr. Dietrich and to everyone who participated.